SOME Kabwata residents are infuriated with the purported sale of Looters basketball and tennis court at a time experts are advocating sport and lifestyle change for improved health.

They want to know how a chinese investor was offered the site and to whom $4 million for the sale would benefit and accrue.

And the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged Government to investigate the illegal secret sell of play parks and recreational facilities in Lusaka.

The residents were enraged by reports indicating that the Lusaka City Council (LCC) has sold off the only play park situated at Libala without consulting them.

Misheck Phiri of Libala Stage 4 said it was unfortunate that the council had resolved to sale such facilities meant for community youth recreation and health workouts.

Mr Phiri said other constituencies such as Matero were busy scouting for land to establish basketball courts for youth recreation while in Libala and Woodlands the council has decided to dispose them off.

“We are not happy with the reports we are getting that the council has sold Looters basketball court, and yet it is the only such recreation facility in the area.

“Our friends in Matero are putting up beautiful basketball facilities for the young people, but here, it seems, the community has no use for the facility,” he said.

Mr Phiri explained that most residents in the area have expressed ignorance at the goings-on at the basketball court and have questioned the rationale used in arriving at the decision to sell the play parks and tennis court.

He said some taxi drivers in the area have argued over the authenticity of the sale and have defended the activities around the facility as “mere maintenance works to improve the rundown facility”.

And ZCTU secretary general Cosmas Mukuka said the illegal sale of land in Lusaka by some councillors was against the council procedure and if found true, culprits should be brought to book.

In a statement issued to the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr Mukuka said ZCTU was concerned over illegal sale of Lusaka council property.

Last week, civil rights activist Brebner Changala called on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to thoroughly investigate the issue and urged the two parliamentarians in the affected areas to get involved into the issue if such things were to be prevented in future.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to take up the issue.

LCC Town Clerk Alex Mwansa on Wednesday issued a statement that the council had sold off the areas housing Looters basketball court at a cost of K12 million for commercial activities.